Chelsea handed double Government & UEFA update over fixtures against FC Salzburg and Liverpool

Chelsea have been provided with an update over their Champions League clash against FC Salzburg and the Premier League fixture against Liverpool next weekend ahead of the Queen’s funeral. 

Graham Potter, who was appointed Chelsea’s new head coach on Thursday after the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, saw his wait extended for his first game in charge after their league game against Fulham was postponed following the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

All football matches were postponed as a result, and doubt has been raised over Chelsea’s next two fixtures which will both take place at Stamford Bridge in the capital.

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Their clash against Liverpool is due to take place next Sunday and there had been major concerns due to the policing required for the Queen’s funeral. 

However, the Premier League clash could be played with the funeral looking likely to be held on Monday 19th September, which King Charles III confirmed would be a bank holiday for the country. 

League fixtures for next weekend have yet to be confirmed by the Premier League, but The Department of Culture, Media and Sport revealed that their stance of the relevant authorities deciding what happens to fixtures being played or not hadn’t changed. 

They told Football.London: "Our guidance will stay the same. There's no obligation to cancel as far as the government is concerned. But it's ultimately up to the Premier League and EFL to make those decisions."

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The Met Police added: "Whether matches go ahead is a matter for the football authorities. If fixtures do take place, the Met will work with the relevant partners and ensure that appropriate policing plans are in place."

Potter’s first game in charge though is set to come in midweek against FC Salzburg in the Champions League. 

As reported by Sky Sports, Discussions have been ongoing between UEFA and all the British teams in Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League competitions and all matches are expected to go ahead. 

Chelsea will be keen to bounce back from their opening Group E 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia on Wednesday night which marked the end of Tuchel’s spell in charge of the Blues. 

The former Chelsea head coach said after the defeat: “Too much to analyse. I’m part of it. We are clearly not where we need to be.

"It’s on me, on us, we need to find solutions. At the moment everything is missing.”

Potter will be under pressure to land a win in his first game in charge, which he has several days to prepare for, to keep Chelsea’s hopes high of qualifying for the European knockout stages.